The Port of Mombasa recorded a milestone in 2024, handling 41.1 million tonnes of cargo, a 14.2 per cent increase from the 35.98 million tonnes managed in 2023.

This significant growth was attributed to a rise in containerised and bulk cargo volumes, according to Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director William K. Ruto.

“The Port of Mombasa remains a critical hub for East Africa regional trade, and our improved performance underscores its strategic importance in trade facilitation and connectivity throughout the region,” Ruto told journalists in Mombasa.

Key global shipping lines selecting Mombasa as a transshipment hub further bolstered this performance.

Smaller feeder vessels now operate from Mombasa to ports in eastern and southern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands, reinforcing the port's role in regional trade.

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For the first time in over a decade, the port’s container traffic exceeded 2 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), with 2.005 million TEUs handled in 2024.

Of this, imports increased by 7.2 per cent to 768,088 TEUs, while exports rose 6.6 per cent to 731,934 TEUs.

Transit cargo volumes also surged, reaching 13.4 million tonnes, a 17.4 per cent increase from the previous year.

Uganda accounted for 65.7 per cent of the total transit cargo, with 8.81 million tonnes processed, up from 7.11 million tonnes in 2023.

Other key transit destinations included South Sudan (12.7 per cent), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (11.8 per cent), Rwanda (5.1 per cent), and Tanzania (3.4 per cent).

Ruto highlighted the port’s resilience amid global trade disruptions, saying its performance reflects its capacity to handle increasing trade volumes.

“We remain committed to enhancing our services and facilities to accommodate the growing global trade demand and to support the region’s economic development,” he said.

Ongoing investments in equipment upgrades, infrastructure development, and modernised operations systems are expected to further solidify the Port of Mombasa’s position as East Africa’s leading trade gateway.